Telescopic gangway

ABSTRACT

A telescopic gangway is provided for handling the passengers of single-deck or double-deck passenger airplanes parked nose in at least at one of the doors of the main deck or upper deck, which doors are located in front of, above or behind the wing. Passengers go through the lateral rear door, a door which is located directly in front of or behind the wing and through a central door of the upper deck of a doubledeck aircraft. The telecopic gangway includes tunnel elements which may be swivelled over the wing of the airplane and can be telescoped with a cabin ( 3 ) that can be moved up to the door of the airplane. A frame ( 6 ) surrounds the tunnel elements. An extension arm is rigidly or movably fastened to the frame ( 6 ), on which the telescoping tunnel elements are suspended in a height-adjustable manner. A post ( 4 ) is arranged at a sufficient safe distance from the wing and the engine of the parked airplane. The frame ( 6 ) is mounted on this post ( 4 ) pivotably by an angle of 180° around a vertical axis of rotation arranged centrally on the longitudinal axis of the tunnel elements ( 1, 2 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a telescopic gangway for handling thepassengers of single-deck or double-deck passenger airplanes parked nosein at least at one of the doors of the main deck or upper deck, whichdoors are located in front of, above or behind the wing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A stationary telescopic gangway for loading and unloading airplanesparked at right angles to the airport terminal with a gangway partextending over the wing approximately in parallel to the fuselage and aplurality stairs which are arranged thereon offset by 90° and aredisplaceable in the longitudinal direction of the gangway with cabinsfor lateral contact with the fuselage has been known from DE OS 20 57464. The supporting structure of the gangway is suspended on stationarypylons via a complicated framework and the stairs are mounted at thefree end in a height-adjustable manner and displaceably in thelongitudinal direction of the supporting structure of the gangway. Thisgangway structure is very complicated and can be used for limited,uniform airplanes.

A so-called “over-the-wing” telescopic gangway has been known as well,in which the telescoping tunnel parts with the cabin arranged at the endare suspended in a height-adjustable manner and pivotably through amaximum of 30° in a rigid support structure anchored on the apron (seeAviobridge MK-11 “over-the-wing” bridge, Flughafen Amsterdam Schiphol+DEOS 19 63 983).

DE 197 17 386 A1 shows a multiple telescopic gangway for embarking anddisembarking passengers of jumbo jets with a gangway extension arm and aramp gangway, which are suspended vertically displaceably on a tower orframe. In one embodiment, the gangway extension arm is suspended in twovertically displaceable support frames, wherein an inner frame ismounted on a support column rotatably around an eccentric vertical axisand an outer frame is displaceable via tangentially arranged floorrollers. However, the range of pivoting is limited to a maximum of 30°here due to the out-of-center arrangement of the vertical axis, so thatthe telescopic gangway has only a limited use.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The basic object of the present invention is to provide an especiallyvariable telescopic gangway, by means of which it is possible to handleeither narrow-body airplanes at the lateral tail door or wide-body anddouble-deck airplanes at the door arranged behind the wing or at one ofthe middle doors of the upper deck or wide-body airplanes also at thedoor arranged in front of the wing in combination with a telescopicgangway handling exclusively the nose door.

According to the invention, a telescopic gangway for handling thepassengers of single-deck or double-deck passenger airplanes parked nosein at least at one of the doors of the main deck or upper deck, in whichthe doors are located in front of, above or behind the wing, isprovided. The gangway includes tunnel elements which are pivotable overthe wing of the airplane and can be telescoped with a cabin that can bemoved up to the door of the airplane. A frame surrounds thenon-displaceable tunnel element. An extension arm, which is rigidly ormovably fastened to the frame, on which the telescoping tunnel elementsare suspended in a height-adjustable manner in the case of a rigidlyfastened extension arm, are suspended in a height-adjustable mannertogether with the extension arm in the case of a movable extension arm.A leg is arranged at a sufficient safe distance from the wing and theengine of the parked airplane. On the leg the frame is mounted pivotablyby an angle of 180° around a vertical axis of rotation arrangedcentrally on the longitudinal axis of the tunnel elements.

Provisions are made according to the present invention for the part ofthe telescopic gangway which leads over or along the wing and comprisesthe extension arm and the telescoping tunnel with the cabin, which saidtunnel is suspended on or is directly fastened to the extension arm, tobe fastened to a frame, which surrounds the gangway tunnel and ispivotable around a central vertical axis of rotation on a leg firmlyanchored on the apron in front of the wing. The gangway tunnel isrigidly connected to the frame in the horizontal pivoting direction. Inaddition, the cabin-side end of the telescopic gangway can be adjustedin height around a horizontal axis of rotation arranged in the area ofthe frame by means of lifting cylinders or other mechanical adjustingmeans fastened in an articulated manner either at the apron-side orterminal-side end of the extension arm.

Depending on the category of the airplanes to be handled, a short orlong leg may be provided to keep the adjustment of the cabin height assmall as possible. The frame may be mounted according to the presentinvention on a ball type rim bearing on the leg. The frame can bepivoted by up to 180° by means of lifting cylinders acting in bothdirections or other adjusting means which act on bearing brackets. Thegangway tunnel with the parts fastened thereto can be raised and loweredby up to 45° in relation to the approximately horizontal apron by meansof the lifting cylinders arranged at the end of the extension arm.

The weight of the part of the telescopic gangway pointing toward theairplane is preferably balanced with a counterweight fastened to theextension arm. However, the counterweight with the part of the extensionarm projecting toward it may be eliminated in the case of acorrespondingly flexurally rigid embodiment of the leg, the ball typerim bearing and the frame.

It has proved to be favorable for safety reasons to provide a number ofdistance-measuring devices or sensors or contacts, which automaticallyraise the parts pivoting over the wing in the case of contact and anunacceptable approach, on the underside of the parts pivoting over thewing, especially of the gangway tunnel.

The gangway structure according to the present invention may also beused especially for handling passenger ships.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses,reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter inwhich preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the telescopic gangway with short leg,which is docked with a lateral tail door of a “narrow-body” airplane,complemented by a “nose loader” docked with the nose door as well aswith a fixed connection web connected to the airport terminal;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the telescopic gangway with long leg,which is docked with the door of the main deck, which door is locatedbehind the wing or at one of the middle doors of the upper deck of afuture double-deck airplane;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the telescopic gangway with a fixedconnection web joined to the telescopic gangway as a view from the apronin the direction of the airplane, not shown;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the telescopic gangway with a“nose loader” joined to the fixed connection web as viewed from theapron;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a telescopic gangway docked optionallywith the lateral tail door of a narrow-body airplane or with the door ofa wide-body airplane, which door is located in front of the wing,without counterweight and a projecting extension arm;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the telescopic gangway shown in FIG. 5with joined fixed connection web in a view from the apron in thedirection of the airplane, not shown; and

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the telescopic gangway shown inFIG. 5 as viewed from the apron.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in particular, the figures show clearly onlythe components of the telescopic gangway that are relevant for thepresent invention. The telescoping tunnels 1 and 2 leading over (FIGS.1, 2 and 5) or along (FIG. 5) the wing with the cabin 3 arranged movablyat the airplane-side end of the tunnel are pivotable as a whole aroundthe leg 4 anchored on the apron by means of a ball type rim bearing 5.An essentially rectangular or square frame 6 is pivotable by up to 180°around a vertical axis on the ball type rim bearing. The gangway tunnel1, which is pivotable around an essentially horizontal axis of rotationapproximately in the middle of the frame, passes through the frame 6.The extension arm 9 is connected to the frame 6 either rigidly (FIGS. 1through 4) or movably (FIGS. 5 through 7) by means of two liftingcylinders 7. The horizontal extension arm 9 is connected to the rearcounterweight 8 at the top end of the frame 6 in the first case, and theextension arm 9, which is preferably designed as a cantilever beam, isconnected at the bottom to the frame 6 in an articulated manner in thesecond case. In the embodiment shown as an example in FIGS. 1 through 4,the gangway tunnel 1 is suspended on the end of the extension arm 9facing the cabin 3 in an articulated and height-adjustable manner bymeans of two lifting cylinders 7. In the exemplary embodiment withoutcounterweight and a projecting extension arm, which is shown in FIGS. 5through 7, the extension arm 9 projecting toward the cabin 3 is, incontrast, connected to the frame 6 in an articulated manner at thebottom and in a height-adjustable manner at the top by means of twolifting cylinders 7.

The entire telescopic gangway is preferably pivoted around the leg 4 bymeans of a lifting cylinder 10, which acts in both directions and isfastened in an articulated manner to projecting bearing brackets 11 and12 on the leg 4 and on the frame 6. Instead of by means of the liftingcylinder 10, the telescopic gangway can also be pivoted by means anelectric motor-driven pivoting drive, which engages the toothed balltype rim bearing 5 and is usually used, e.g., in tower slewing cranes.The hydraulic unit 13 for the pivoting and lifting cylinders 10 and 7 islocated at the foot of the leg and in the leg 4, respectively.

The flexible connection between the gangway tunnel 1 and the fixedconnection web 14 can be brought about by means of a bellows 15 or arotunda with vertical rolling walls which is usually used in telescopicgangways. The underside of the gangway tunnel 1 leading over the wing isprovided with a sufficient number of distance-measuring devices, sensorsor contacts, which automatically move the gangway upward in case ofcontact or an unacceptable approach. After correct docking of thetelescopic gangway with the door of the airplane, the contact wheel 16performs the automatic height adjustment.

FIG. 4 additionally shows a fixed support 17 for the connection web 14.A prior-art “nose loader” gangway 18 with a height adjusting means 19 isadditionally located at this connection web 14 for handling the nosedoor. The directions of movement of the telescopic gangway areadditionally indicated by double arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 5 shows a connection web 14 which is supported directly on abracket support projecting from the leg 4. Furthermore, a prior-arttelescopic gangway 18 is additionally shown for handling the nose door.The directions of movement of the telescopic gangways are additionallyindicated by double arrows in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:
 1. A telescopic gangway for handling the passengersof single-deck or double-deck passenger airplanes parked nose in atleast at one of the doors of the main deck or upper deck, which doorsare located in front of, above or behind the wing, the telescopicgangway comprising: tunnel elements pivotable over the wing of theairplane and telescoping with a cabin movable up to the door of theairplane said tunnel elements including a non-displaceable tunnelelement; a frame surrounding said non-displaceable tunnel element; anextension arm rigidly movably fastened to said frame, said telescopingtunnel elements being suspended in a height-adjustable manner on saidextension arm with said extension arm rigidly fastened or beingsuspended in a height-adjustable manner together with said extension armmovably connected; and a leg mounted on the ground and arranged at asufficient safe distance from the wing and the engine of the parkedairplane, the gangway being spaced from the ground in an area betweensaid leg and an airplane, said frame being mounted pivotably by an angleof 180° around a vertical axis of rotation arranged centrally on thelongitudinal axis of said tunnel elements; respective projecting bearingbrackets; lifting cylinders between said bearing brackets acting in bothdirections or other pivoting drives usually used in tower slewing cranesfastened to said leg and to said frame for pivoting the telescopicgangway around said leg.
 2. A telescopic gangway in accordance withclaim 1, further comprising: ball type rim bearing, wherein said frameis mounted on said leg with said ball type rim bearing.
 3. A telescopicgangway in accordance with claim 1, further comprisingdistance-measuring devices or sensors arranged on an underside of saidnon-displaceable tunnel element, pivotable over the wing of the airplaneand/or of an inner tunnel of said tunnel elements and/or of said cabinin order to prevent a contact with the wing or to automatically raisethe gangway tunnel correspondingly in case of an unacceptable approach.4. A telescopic gangway for handling the passengers of single-deck ordouble-deck passenger airplanes parked nose in at least at one of thedoors of the main deck or upper deck, which doors are located in frontof, above or behind the wing, the telescopic gangway comprising: tunnelelements pivotable over the wing of the airplane and telescoping with acabin movable up to the door of the airplane said tunnel elementsincluding a non-displaceable tunnel element; a frame surrounding saidnon-displaceable tunnel element; an extension arm rigidly movablyfastened to said frame, said telescoping tunnel element being suspendedin a height-adjustable manner on said extension arm with said extensionarm rigidly fastened or being suspended in a height-adjustable mannertogether with said extension arm movably connected; a leg mounted on theground and arranged at a sufficient safe distance from the wing and theengine of the parked airplane, the gangway being spaced from the groundin an area between said leg and an airplane, said frame being mountedpivotably by an angle of 180° around a vertical axis of rotationarranged centrally on the longitudinal axis of said tunnel elements; acounterweight arranged on a side of said extension arm connected to saidframe, said side facing away from said cabin.
 5. A telescopic gangway inaccordance with claim 4, wherein one or more lifting cylinders ormechanical spindle drives are fastened in an articulated manner eitherto said non-displaceable tunnel element and to the airplane-side end ofsaid rigid extension arm or to a top end of said frame as well as to theterminal-side top end of the movable extension arm for adjusting theheight of the airplane-side end of the telescopic gangway.
 6. Atelescopic gangway for handling the passengers of single-deck ordouble-deck passenger airplanes parked nose in at least at one of thedoors of the main deck or upper deck, which doors are located in frontof, above or behind the wing, the telescopic gangway comprising: tunnelelements pivotable over the wing of the airplane and telescoping with acabin movable up to the door of the airplane said tunnel elementsincluding a non-displaceable tunnel element, a frame surrounding saidnon-displaceable tunnel element; an extension arm rigidly movablyfastened to said frame, said telescoping tunnel elements being suspendedin a height-adjustable manner on said extension arm with said extensionarm rigidly fastened or being suspended in a height-adjustable mannertogether with said extension arm movably connected; a leg mounted on theground and arranged at a sufficient safe distance from the wing and theengine of the parked airplane, the gangway being spaced from the groundin an area between said leg and an airplane, said frame being mountedpivotably by an angle of 180° around a vertical axis of rotationarranged centrally on the longitudinal axis of said tunnel elements;said extension arm being pivotable by up to 180° around a vertical axisof rotation and said non-displaceable tunnel element can be raised andlowered by up to 45° in relation to an approximately horizontal apronaround a horizontal axis of rotation arranged in an area of said frame.7. A telescopic gangway, comprising: an inner tunnel element; a gangwaytunnel element telescopingly connected to said inner tunnel element,said inner tunnel element and said gangway tunnel element beingpivotable; a frame surrounding said gangway tunnel; an extension armrigidly movably fastened to said frame, said inner tunnel and saidgangway tunnel elements being suspended in a height-adjustable manner onsaid extension arm or being suspended in a height-adjustable mannertogether with said extension arm; and a leg supported by the ground,said leg fully supporting said inner tunnel element and said gangwaytunnel element, said leg including a vertical axis of rotation, saidframe being mounter pivotably by an angle of 180° around said verticalaxis of rotation, said vertical axis being arranged centrally on alongitudinal axis of said tunnel elements.
 8. A telescopic gangway inaccordance with claim 7, further comprising: respective projectingbearing brackets; lifting cylinders between said bearing brackets actingin both directions or other pivoting drives usually used in towerstewing cranes fastened to said leg and to said frame for pivoting thetelescopic gangway around said leg.
 9. A telescopic gangway inaccordance with claim 7, wherein one or more lifting cylinders ormechanical spindle drives are fastened in an articulated manner eitherto said gangway tunnel element and to the airplane-side end of saidrigid extension arm or to a top end of said frame as well as to theterminal-side top end of the movable extension arm for adjusting theheight of the airplane-side end of the telescopic gangway.
 10. Atelescopic gangway in accordance with claim 7, further comprising acounterweight arranged on a side of said extension arm connected to saidframe, said side facing away from said cabin.
 11. A telescopic gangwayin accordance with claim 7, wherein said extension arm can be pivoted byup to 180° around a vertical axis of rotation and said gangway tunnelcan be raised and lowered by up to 45° in relation to an approximatelyhorizontal apron around a horizontal axis of rotation arranged in anarea of said frame.
 12. A telescopic gangway in accordance with claim 7,further comprising distance-measuring devices or sensors arranged on anunderside of said gangway tunnel pivotable over the wing of the airplaneand/or of an inner tunnel of said tunnel elements and/or of said cabinin order to prevent a contact with the wing or to automatically raisethe gangway tunnel correspondingly in case of an unacceptable approach.13. A telescopic gangway comprising; a leg mounted on the ground andhaving a leg axis substantially normal to the ground; frame pivotallyconnected to said leg about said leg axis; an first tunnel elementconnected to said frame and pivotal with said frame about said leg axis;a second tunnel element telescopically connected to said first tunnelelement and pivotal with said frame and said first tunnel element aboutsaid leg axis, said frame fully supporting said first and second tunnelelements on said leg; an extension arm extending from said frame andconnected to said first tunnel element; said extension arm being rigidlyconnected to said frame; said first and second tunnel elements beingpivotally suspended from said extension arm.
 14. A telescopic gangway inaccordance with claim 13, wherein: said first and second tunnel elementsare connected to said frame in a height adjustable manner.
 15. Atelescopic gangway in accordance with claim 13, wherein: said first andsecond tunnel elements are pivotally connected to said frame about anaxis substantially parallel to the ground.
 16. A telescopic gangwaycomprising: a leg mounted on the ground and having a leg axissubstantially normal to the ground; frame pivotally connected to saidleg about said leg axis; an first tunnel element connected to said frameand pivotal with said frame about said leg axis; a second tunnel elementtelescopically connected to said first tunnel element and pivotal withsaid frame and said first tunnel element about said leg axis, said framefully supporting said first and second tunnel elements on said leg; anextension arm extending from said frame and connected to said firsttunnel element; said extension arm is rigidly connected to said firsttunnel element, said extension arm is pivotally connected to said frame.17. A telescopic gangway in accordance with claim 16, wherein: saidextension arm is pivotally connected to said frame about a lifting axissubstantially parallel to the ground; a lifting device connects saidextension arm to said frame, said lifting device and said lifting axisare arranged to have said lifting device experience tensile force from aweight of said first and second tunnel elements.
 18. A telescopicgangway in accordance with claim 17, wherein: said first tunnel elementhas a ground side facing the ground, said ground side is arrangedbetween said lifting device and the ground.